…since we have been in Columbus for exactly one year now. We crossed the border into Ohio late last year on July 29, 2007.

We spent the next couple of days unpacking boxes…

and inciting the curiosity of our new neighbors. None of them could figure out how we got the car into the moving van. They also couldn’t figure out how we were planning on getting it out of the moving van. That’s okay, we had a hard time figuring it out too.

In the past year we’ve really learned to enjoy our time in Columbus. Here are some of the things we like about the city:

1. We finally get to experience seasons. This has been a big plus, as Scott really enjoys the cooler weather.

2. We like the diversity and attractiveness of house that aren’t all created from the same cookie cutter. Not to mention cheap.

3. People are nice and friendly.

4. We get to experience the mania that is Buckeye Football.

5. There’s always something to do—lots of festivals, activities, and outdoor adventures.

6. The city is smaller than The Valley, but it’s still filled with everything you need (or think you want).

7. There are lots of yummy restaurants, like City Barbeque and North Star Café.

8. The city is within a days driving distance of 50% of the US population. This leads to lots of new road trip opportunities. Enough said.

Life in OH-IO | No Comments »

The end of summer marks the beginning of Ohio Festival Season. If you recall from last year, I had a desire to attend almost every festival in town—and there are quite a few of them in and around Columbus. We missed the Rib and Jazz Fest of last year, so we thought we’d hit it up this year.

Long before we actually saw anything, we could smell the barbeque. Already hungry, it made my mouth water. We were immediately amazed by the large crowds and massive awards that every barbeque team was ostentatiously displaying. Not only did they have a huge wall of banners hanging above their serving station, but they also stack their collection of trophies between lines of waiting customers.

We selected a stand that looked promising and ordered our food: four ribs, half a chicken breast, a pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw, and a roll. I told you we were hungry—too hungry, in fact, to actually take any pictures of the food or us eating the food. The verdict? We decided the food was good, but City Barbeque is a close runner up. Unfortunately, we weren’t all that impressed.

Thirsty and in search of better grub, we headed over to the lemonade stand, where we purchased two regular size glasses. After three and a half years of marriage, I’ve learned not to share drinks with Scott. He tends to take really large gulps, especially if he is at all thirsty. It was yummy. Nice and sugary, not too lemony.

One of the best things about this festival was the crazy people watching going on. There were seriously some of the most interesting people walking around, like the one chick walking around in five inch neon pink heels. Or the black man without a shirt, boxer briefs and shorts sagging so low they belted around his knees.

Or the little kids we shared a table with while eating our spiral fried potatoes with bacon bits and Lawry’s seasoning. Despite how disgusting they sound, they were actually quite tasty.

Or the interesting characters I watched dance to blasting club music as they passed by while Scott was snapping photos of the setting sun over the Olentangy River. It was very idyllic.

Or the cute little blond-haired girls dance to the jazz music, as only completely oblivious youngsters can, while Scott snapped some shots of the Columbus city skyline. Needless to say, there was a lot of rubbernecking going on. We had a good time!

Columbus Festivals | 2 Comments »

So, the other day, I was transferring all my blogs to Google Reader—the better to keep up with everyone, my dears. I clicked on a random link and came to a webpage that looked like this:

Curious. I didn’t realize there was an “End of the Internet.” So, like all unsuspecting Internet goers, I clicked on the link. This is what I found:

Hah! Ha! Very funny. For your information, Oh-Internet-Wise-One, I read plenty of books.

Lonica Stuff | 1 Comment »

So, yesterday, I come home to find this:

Granted, it wasn’t completely unexpected. He’s been talking about making his firecracker carrots for days now, but the over powering scent of boiling vinegar was a bit unexpected—that and the unprecedented amount of carrots that had been purchased for the enterprise. (A whole 10 lbs, when only 3 were actually needed.)

Apparently, there was a big sale on carrots at the grocery store that was just too good to pass up.

So, we sliced the carrots, boiled the smelly vinegar, punctured the jalapeño and cayenne peppers and combined them all in stylish glass jars to come up with this:

Somehow I don’t think this combination will taste much like E.D. Smith’s Blueberry Raspberry Pomegranate Jelly. No offense, E.D. Smith.

Don’t worry though, we’ll have dozens of frozen knot rolls to hold us over should The End come unexpectedly; I had a baking day of my own on Friday, but that’s another story.

Culinary Creations | 2 Comments »

Sunday proved to be a rather dreary and humid day, but we headed out for Niagara Falls with high hopes. We found a place to park (after some foul navigating on the part of The Navigator) and headed over for our first look at the falls.

It was pretty impressive, loud, and powerful. We joined all the other international onlookers—somehow Americans seem missing from this great American landmark—in taking our picture and leaning out precariously over the falls. Don’t worry, though, Dad. I wasn’t in any danger.

After looking at the Horseshoe falls from the American side (not much of a view, but we forgot to bring our passports—Duh!), we headed over to the American falls. We gazed down at them from above, then paid $12.50 so we could view them from a bridge that juts out over the Niagara River and ride the Maid of the Mist.

Before riding the Maid of the Mist, though, we pestered a bunch of non-American’s into taking our picture. Scott was a bit annoyed with my desire for perfection.

Somehow, I’m not a huge fan of pictures of my eyes closed standing in front of national landmarks like Niagara Falls. I mean, who knows when I’ll be back again? And, see, that sunny sky? It’s hard to smile into the light, without closing your eyes.

Regardless, of my smiling ability, we had a good time watching the water pummel the river with its force, and sweltering under our stylish blue ponchos.

We paused for a few more quick shots before heading back home to Columbus. It was a great weekend!

Road Trips | 4 Comments »